Fire-extinguishing and like apparatus



May 31, 1927. 1,630,251

"E. J. BECHARD FIRE EXTINGUISHING AND LIKE APPARATUS Filed June 16. 19242 Sheets-Sheet 1 [ml/E @174 2387/5011 May 31, 1927.

FIRE

1,630,251 E. J. BECHARD EXTINGUISHING AND LIKE APPARATUS Filed June 16.1924 ram -s 2 Fig.2.

' Patented May 31, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATE NT OFFICE.

EMILE J'OSEPH IBECHARD, OF LEVALLOIS-PERRET, FRANCE.

The apparatus may also be actuated by a pressure in a tank or enclosure,such as the crank case of an engine, tanks for petrol, alcohol,petroleum and so forth. a

In general in the case of fire, when the flames appear, the fire hasalready started less rapid heating, even without-flames, due to heating,to an increase of pressure, to friction, to fermentation and so forth.

This apparatus permits of perceiving these various causes as soon as theare produced and thus acting upon the re before it has actually obtaineda hold.

When the cause of the fire acts upon the apparatus, the latter may firstindicate an increase in pressure or temperature by actuating a whistle,a siren, or by closing the circuit of electric lamps or bells.

. It may then discharge upon the cause of the fire, even before awarning thereof 'is given, an extinguishing liquid or powder such asthose at present usually employed for such purposes.

Simultaneously the apparatus may also control all the apparatus orsafety devices.

On an aeroplane or dirigible the apparatus may cut off the ignition byearthing the magneto, close the supply of petrol from a .he tank, andclose the gas valves; the

,ngines are thus stopped in three ways at ,the same time that theextinguishing sub- "stance is projected.

On a ship, having powder magazines, the apparatus may also give a signalin the case of abnormal temperatures, increase or reduce the circulationof refrigerants, close watertight doors, open sluice gates and so forth.

It may fulfil the same functions in storing chambers for coal orpetroleum and in closed compartments containing substances which it isdesired to protect from an in crease in temperature no matter from whatcause.

In magazines, warehouses, apartments and so forth the apparatus isemployed very efliciently as a signalling device and as an extinguisher.

The apparatus is very easily adjustable between 45 and 200 C.

In order to operate at an increase of temas frequently the fire iscaused by a more or.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING AND LIKE APPARATUS.

Application filed June 16, 1924, Serial No. 720,461, and in France July21, 1923.

perature, the apparatus utilizes the expansion of liquids or thepressure which is produced by the vapour of these latter when they areheated at a constant volume; the pressure which is produced drives off aportion of the liquid which, by passing through a tube, increases thevolume of aresilient receptacle acting as a receiver.

This receiver may be a thermostatic element a coiled gauge tube, or apiston.

In order to operate on an increase. in pressure the receiver will be thesame but the collector is also a resilient enclosure which contractsunder the action of pressure or shock, this contraction produces theexpansion of the receiver.

The temperature collectors are of different shapes according to theposition in which the are adapted to be placed.

n a pipe for gas or liquid the collector may be in the form of twoconcentric tubes, the expansible liquid being between these two tubes.

In tanks or enclosures, it willbe in the form of a cylinder.

In upholstery tapestry, magazines, sub-' stances sub1ectedto heating orfermentation, in the vicinity of electric fuses. air intakes forcarburetors, in apartments, it may be in the form of a grid or alattice-work of tubes.

The invention also has for its object a modification of the device abovedescribed and according to this modification two thermostatic elementsare combined in such a manner as to form a device for compensating thevariation of pressure or temperature.

In the accompanying drawings are illustrated diagrammatically and by wayof example only various forms of construction according to the inventionand modifications thereof. In these drawings Fig. 1 illustrates aninstallation of a suitable type foruse on aeroplanes,

Fig. 2 shows the device for compensating the temperature or pressure.

In the form of construction of the invention shown diagrammatically inFig. 1, the member 1 is areceiver which consists of two thermostaticelements; the number of elements depends upon the result to be 0btained,the extensions being added away from the fixed point 2.

The member 3 is a cylindrical temperature collector which may be placedin the petrol tank, in the crank case or in the radiator.

The member 4 is a pressure collector which collapses when there is anincrease in pressure in the enclosure 5, which may be the crank case ofthe engine or the petrol tank, for the purpose of avoiding explosions.

The member 6 is a collect-Orin the form of a grid which may be placedaround the air intake or the float chamber of the carburettor.

The gauge 7 graduated in degrees'and in kilograms indicates at anyinstant to the pilot whether everything is safe of whether there is anabnormal pressure or heating.

The pipe 8 connects the collectors to the controlling apparatus and thepipe 8 joins the ipe 8 to the receiver 1.

Tl ie tank 9 is filled with air or carbonic acid adapted to operate thesignalling, extinguishing and safety appliances. The tank isso-constructed that should the atmospheric pressure he reduced to zero,the pressure in the tank will be insufficient to exceed the limit ofsafety and the tank will not burst.

The gauge 10 indicates atany instant the contents of the tank 9.

The valve 11 serves to place the tank 9 into communication with thesignalling, extinguishing and safety appliances.

This valve is operated by a spring 12 bearing upon the-stationaryp'oint13, when the bell crank lever 14, operated by the receiver 1 releasesthe bell crank lever 15.

The member 16 indicates a signalling whistle.

The member 17 represents the magneto which is earthed at 18 by thecontacts 19 and the rod 20 when compressed air or carbonic acid from thetank 9 acts upon the piston 21.

22 indicates the piston and cylinder for operating the valve 23 for theextinguishing substance; this may be driven from the tank 24 by thecontents of the tank 9 passing through the non-return valve 25.

v The extinguishing substance is distributed at suitable points throughnozzles, spraying devices or roses 26 suitably disposed as may be reuired.

27 indicates the apparatus for operating the valve 28 for the petrolcontained in the supply tank 29, said valve which is normally openoperating to shut ofl the supply to the motor in case of fire.

30 indicates the, apparatus for operating the gas slide valve 31 whichmay be utilized to shut off the supply of combustible mixture from thecarburetor to the motor and thus stop the operation thereof.

Springs 32 serve to return the various apparatus to their tion.

The screw 33 permits of adjusting the point 01' the temperature at whichthe apparatus is adapted to operate.

position for normal opera- 7 Between the receiver and the screw 33 asmall amount of play 34 is left for variations which occur during normaloperation.

If for example the apparatus is adjusted at the receiver 1 may expand orcontract without actuating the apparatus at temperatures below 75.

0pemtion.-If there is an increase of temperature reaching the point towhich the apparatus is adjusted in the members 3 and 6 or 6, or anincrease in pressure in 5, or all simultaneously, the receiver expandsand after passing through the distance 34 bears upon the lever 14through the medium of the screw 33; the lever 14, by turning on itspivot, releases the bell crank lever 15 which is thus turned under theaction of the spring 12 and opens the valve 11.

Air or other gas or liquidunder pressure contained in the tank 9 flowsthrough the pipes 35, earths the magneto by means of the members 19 and20, opens the valve 23 of the extinguisher, shuts ofif the supply ofpetrol by means of the valve 28, shuts off the gas by means of the valve31 and actuates the signal 16.

Each particular case of supervision or protection requires a separatearrangement ut the principle of operation remains the same thetemperature or pressure of operation, the actuating liquid, air,carbonic acid,

water or other bodies under pressure are the only parts which arevaried.

Moreover by placing a stop-cock beyond the valve 11 the apparatus may betested without interfering with the system.

The device for compensating ambient temperatures or pressures, which isshown diagrammatically in Fig.2, enables the signalling andextinguishing apparatus to operate as a differential apparatus or evento annul the resultant effects of the variation of the atmosphericpressure with the altitude when the apparatus is mounted on an aerostat.

As shown in Fig. 2 this device comprises two sets of thermostaticelements 36 and 37; the elements 36 communicate with the temperature orpressure devices through the. pipe 8' when they are varied under theaction of an increase in temperature or pressure, for example areexpanded, they raise the lever 38 pivoted at 39 on the support 40 andthe pro ection 41 formed on an extension of the lever 38 releases thelever 42; the latter, under the action of a' spring 43, turns on itspivot 44 and by this movement operates the valve 11 (Fig. '1).

The thermostatic elements 37, which are identical with the elements 36,are placed on the opposite side of the lever 38 in opposition to' theelements 36. The element 37 can be filled wit-h air at atmosphericpressure, at which time it acts simply as an altimetric corrector. Thiselement 37 can directions; the forces produced by in two different thereduction of the barometric pressure will have the eflect of loweringthe point of operation of the apparatus relatively to the adjustmentmade on the ground.

The device shown in Fig. 2 remedies this drawback; the elements 36 and37 being placed in opposition, these two elements will expand to thesame extent but in opposite the action of the elements 36 and 37 willthus have a zero resultant so that the elements 36, which communicatewith a temperature device or with the pressure receivers will alwaysopcrate at the same pressure or temperature irrespective of the pressureor temperature of the surrounding medium.

The lever 38 can only oscillate at the moment when the diflerencebetween the pressures or the temperatures attains a value determined bythe tension of the. spring 45.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and} desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. An apparatus"- for use on flying machinesincluding a reservoir consisting of a pluralit of expansible elements,devices capable o bein placed in the crank case of the motor 0 themachine and in the gasoline tank thereof and adapted to be acted upon,respectively, by'variations in temperature and pressure, meansestablishing communication between said devices and sald reservoir, atank for containing fluid under pressure, a valve controlling theoutflow of the fluid from said tank, means operated by the expansion ofthe elements of said reservoir for actuating said valve, and fireextinguishing mechanism operated by the release of fluid from said tank.

2. An apparatus for use on flying machines including a reservoirconsisting of a plurality of expansible elements, devices capable ofbeing placed in the crank case of the motor of the machine and in thegasoline tank thereof and adapted to be acted upon, respectively, byvariations in temperature and pressure, means establishin communicationbetween said devices and said reservoir, a tank for containin fluidunder pressure,

flow of the fluid fromsaid tank, means opa valve controlling t eouterated by the expansion of the elements of said reservoir foractuating said valve, and fire extinguishing and magneto groundingmechanisms both operated the. fluid from said tank.

3. An apparatus for use on flying machines including a reservoirconsisting of a plurality of expansible elements, devices capable ofbeing placed in the crank case of the motor of the machineand in thegasoline tank thereof and adapted to be acted upon, respectively, byvariations in temperature and pressure, means establishing communicationbetween said devices and said reservoir, a tank for containing fluidunder pressure, a valve controlling the outflow of the fluid from saidtank, means operated by the expansion of the elements of said reservoirfor actuating said valve, fire extinguishing and magneto groundingmechanisms both operated by a release of the fluid from said tank, and asignalling mechanism also controlled by said release.

4. An apparatus for use on flying machines including a reservoirconsisting of a plurality of expansible elements, devices capable ofbeing placed in the crank case of the motor of the machine and in thegasoline tank thereof and adapted to be acted upon, respectively, byvariations in temperature and pressure, means establishing com-'munication between said devices and said reservoir, a tank forcontaining fluid under ressure, a valve controlling the outflow of tieelements of'said reservoir for actuating said valve, and fireextinguishing mechanism, magneto grounding mechanism, signallingmechanism, and mechanism for controlling the supply of fuel from saidgasoline tank, all of which mechanisms are actuated by the'release offluid from said pressure tank.

5. An ap aratus for use on flying machines incluc ling a reservoirconsisting of a plurality of expansible elements, devices capable ofbeing placed in various parts of a maehineand each-exposed to andcontrolled, respectively, by variations of temperature and pressure,means containing an incompressible fluid for establishing communicationbetween said reservoir and devices, a tank for containing fluid underpressure, a

valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said tank, means normallyholding said valve in closed position and actuated by the expansion ofthe elements of said reservoir to release said valve, and means foropening the valve when released.

6. An apparatus for use on flying machines including a reservoirconsisting of a plurality of expansible elements, devices capable ofbeing placed in various parts of a machine and each exposed to andcontrolled, respectively, by variations of temperature and pressure,means containing an incomby a release of pressible fluid forestablishing communication between said reservoir and devices, a tankfor containing fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the flow offluid from said tank, means normally holding said valve in closedposition and actuated by the expansion of the elements of said reservoirto release said valve, means associated with said expansible elementsfor regulating the time of release of said valve. and means for openingsaid valve when released.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a receiver consistingof a number of collapsible and expansible chambers, devices exposed tovariations of temperature pressure and fire, means of communiof fluidfrom said tank,

cation between said devices and said resible fluid, a tank containingfluid under pressure, a valve for controlling the outflow means normallyholding said valve in the closed position, said means being adapted tobe released on the expansion of the receiver, a compensat ing deviceincluding expansible and collapsible members, said expa'nsible andc0llapsible members being, adapted to counteract the expansion andcontraction of the expansible and collapsible members constituting thereceiver. and spring means for opening said valve when released.

EMILE JOSEPH BEGHARD.

